DOCSLIB.ORG

Industrial Wastewater Management and Disposal

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Industrial Wastewater Management and Disposal WQPN 51, OCTOBER 2009 Industrial wastewater management and disposal Purpose Industrial sites catering for light, general and heavy industry underpin the economy of the state and provide substantial employment opportunities. Industrial waste management practices may pose a significant risk to sensitive water resources. Appropriate site location, provision of services, facilities design and best operational management practices are needed to minimise this risk. Examples of the impacts that may occur when industrial wastes are discharged include petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, surfactants, toxins and/or salts, which may pollute receiving waters rendering them unsuitable as a water supply or pose a threat to aquatic life. Some industrial wastes are volatile or release toxic gases. In receiving waters, excessive nutrients can lead to algal blooms, oxygen deficits and increase colour and turbidity. Industrial wastes are also recorded as contaminating underground water; for example, there are several large contamination plumes within the Kwinana industrial area. The addition of industrial waste to sewers can increase the cost and risk to the community of treating sewage. Industrial pollutants such as oxygen scavengers may corrode pipes and equipment in the sewerage collection system and in treatment plants. Greases and suspended matter can cause pipe blockages and odours. For further information on the potential effects of various contaminants discharged to sewer, and the usual approaches that water utilities take in managing these impacts, refer to the National water quality management strategy paper 12 (Reference 1). These notes advise on environmental issues and make recommendations on best practice. Key supporting information is provided in appendices. This information includes the department’s role, intended use of the note, sensitive water resources description, water resource buffers, relevant statutes and administering agencies, information for assessing development proposals and may include case studies, checklists and diagrams. Scope This note applies to industries as defined in the Town Planning Regulations 1967 Appendix B, schedule 1 (as amended); including: - abattoirs Industrial wastewater management and disposal www.water.wa.gov.au Page 1 of 28 - aquaculture - animal by product plants - animal holding and sales yards - animal product processing - chemical manufacture and formulation - energy production industries - fertiliser production - food processing - hospitals and aged care homes - laboratories - metal production and finishing - mineral processing - petrochemical works - recycling works - vehicle and plant servicing - water and wastewater treatment works - wool, hide and textile processing. Industrial wastewater includes contaminated stormwater, cooling water, process waters and wash-down waters. This note does not apply to cottage industries or municipal wastewater treatment works or solid waste, but may offer some useful guidance on potential risks to water resources and good practice. The Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage by-laws 1981 (as amended) define industrial waste as being the liquid, solid or gaseous refuse from any business, industry, warehouse or manufacturing premises other than domestic sewage, stormwater, or unpolluted water. The wastewaters from staff amenities or offices at industrial premises are specifically excluded. The terms ‘industrial waste’ and ‘trade waste’ are used interchangeably in waste disposal publications. This note builds on the information supplied in other water quality protection notes (WQPN), such as General and heavy industry near sensitive waters, Light industry near sensitive waters, Extractive industries near sensitive water resources and Stormwater management at industrial sites (Reference 6b). Advice and recommendations Planning approvals and processes The notes described in the preceding paragraph provide recommendations on location of industrial premises for planning approvals. There are limitations discussed concerning the location of industries (and hence their wastewater facilities) near sensitive water resources areas (Appendix A). Industrial wastewater management and disposal Page 2 of 28 Although waste management may seem to be an operational issue, the choice of location affects options for the disposal of treated liquid waste. The availability of adequate service infrastructure, such as emergency management, waste recycling and disposal services, sewerage services, reticulated water supply, electricity, gas, communications and transport access should be assessed when selecting a potential site. Industrial wastewaters are subject to acceptance criteria for discharge to sewer (set by local government, the Water Corporation or other water providers’ systems) and may require on-site treatment. New industrial projects should only be located on land designated for industrial use (via consultative planning schemes) by the Western Australian Planning Commission or Department of Planning, and be appropriately zoned by the local government authority/council. Location 1 Industrial sites should be chosen where the wastewater would cause the least environmental and social impact. Environmental investigations should be used to assess the surrounding land usage, local climate factors, site topography, identification of sensitive water resources, soil strata, surface and groundwater movement, and the site’s land-use history. Industrial wastewater facilities should not be located in areas with a near surface water table that are prone to waterlogging or may be flooded during a 100-year average recurrence interval (ARI) event. This includes land which is seasonally wet, requires artificial drainage or diversion of natural watercourses, or where construction will affect sensitive waters. 2 Sensitive water resources require a range of management techniques to ensure their adequate protection such as definition and community awareness, separation buffers from intensive land usage, effective containment of potentially mobile contaminants, regulation of land-use activities, appropriate waste management decisions by land-use operators, catchment surveillance/monitoring and remedial action to address historical contamination problems. 3 Legally established, but non-conforming, industrial wastewater sites can normally remain near sensitive water resources; however, operators should undertake regular environmental risk assessments and employ best environmental management practice to limit the risk of environmental harm. 4 New sites or expanded use of existing industrial wastewater sites should not occur unless the proponent can demonstrate that industry is unlikely to harm or pose significant risk to the environment during construction, operation or after closure of the premises. Risk mitigation measures may include: a selection of low vulnerability settings suited to the nature of the planned industrial activity b effective community consultation c fail-safe containment of any facilities that could put the environment at risk d adequate buffers to nearby sensitive land uses and water resources Industrial wastewater management and disposal Page 3 of 28 e access to or provision of services that ensure potential wastes are reduced, recycled or adequately treated before safe disposal, such as pre-treatment of process fluids, then discharge to sewerage scheme f site drainage controls to isolate potentially contaminated areas from discharge to the environment g environmental management and monitoring systems h environmental training and awareness programs for site employees and contractors i effective emergency response systems and land rehabilitation plans. 5 The location of industrial precincts and their waste treatment/disposal is likely to be of interest to the surrounding community. The proponent should adequately inform neighbours on the nature of the proposal and the safeguards to be included, then seek community feedback and respond effectively to specific issues raised relating to the local environment, community health and social concerns. Within public drinking water source areas (PDWSA) 6 These areas are declared under the Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Act 1909 or the Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947. They provide for the management and protection of catchments used as public drinking water sources. These areas are highly vulnerable to contamination. PDWSA include underground water pollution control areas (for groundwater catchment protection), water reserves and catchment areas. Source protection by-laws require that written approval be obtained from this department for most land development. Protection areas and zones are defined in source protection plans or land-use and water management strategies, which each undergo public consultation processes. 7 Within designated P1, P2 and P3 areas (see Appendix A – Public drinking water source areas), wellhead protection zones and reservoir protection zones, this department may oppose wastewater infrastructure and wastewater disposal if incompatible with our risk avoidance and risk minimisation objectives (see Reference 6b, WQPN 25,). Industry may occasionally receive approval, with conditions, where the proponent demonstrates that the development will either lower the risks posed by the present land-use activity, is vital to the state’s interests and that best environmental design, construction and operational practice are used. 8 Where conditional approval for an industrial site is
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Non-Incineration Medical Waste Treatment Technologies
    Non-Incineration Medical Waste Treatment Technologies A Resource for Hospital Administrators, Facility Managers, Health Care Professionals, Environmental Advocates, and Community Members August 2001 Health Care Without Harm 1755 S Street, N.W. Unit 6B Washington, DC 20009 Phone: 202.234.0091 www.noharm.org Health Care Without Harm 1755 S Street, N.W. Suite 6B Washington, DC 20009 Phone: 202.234.0091 www.noharm.org Printed with soy-based inks on Rolland Evolution, a 100% processed chlorine-free paper. Non-Incineration Medical Waste Treatment Technologies A Resource for Hospital Administrators, Facility Managers, Health Care Professionals, Environmental Advocates, and Community Members August 2001 Health Care Without Harm www.noharm.org Preface THE FOUR LAWS OF ECOLOGY . Meanwhile, many hospital staff, such as Hollie Shaner, RN of Fletcher-Allen Health Care in Burlington, Ver- 1. Everything is connected to everything else, mont, were appalled by the sheer volumes of waste and 2. Everything must go somewhere, the lack of reduction and recycling efforts. These indi- viduals became champions within their facilities or 3. Nature knows best, systems to change the way that waste was being managed. 4. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Barry Commoner, The Closing Circle, 1971 In the spring of 1996, more than 600 people – most of them community activists – gathered in Baton Rouge, Up to now, there has been no single resource that pro- Louisiana to attend the Third Citizens Conference on vided a good frame of reference, objectively portrayed, of Dioxin and Other Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals. The non-incineration technologies for the treatment of health largest workshop at the conference was by far the one care wastes.
    [Show full text]
  • Infiltration/Inflow Task Force Report
    INFILTRATION/INFLOW TASK FORCE REPORT A GUIDANCE DOCUMENT FOR MWRA MEMBER SEWER COMMUNITIES AND REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS MARCH 2001 INFILTRATION/INFLOW TASK FORCE REPORT A GUIDANCE DOCUMENT FOR MWRA MEMBER SEWER COMMUNITIES AND REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS MARCH 2001 Executive Summary This report is the product of the Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) Task Force. It has been developed through the cooperative efforts of the 43 Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) member sewer communities, MWRA Advisory Board, The Wastewater Advisory Committee (WAC) to the MWRA, Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), Fore River Watershed Association (FRWA), Mystic River Watershed Association (MRWA), Neponset River Watershed Association (NRWA), South Shore Chamber of Commerce (SSCC), Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and MWRA. The I/I Task Force recommends implementation of the regional I/I reduction goals and implementation strategies detailed in this report. The report outlines a regional I/I reduction plan with appropriate burdens and benefits for stakeholders. The report is intended to be a guidance document for use by local sewer communities, as well as other regional stakeholders, who may tailor appropriate aspects of the report recommendations to their unique situations. Severe storms in October 1996 and June 1998 led to the unusual circumstance of numerous sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) from local and MWRA collection systems. In the aftermath of these events, EPA and DEP began an aggressive effort to make MWRA regulate flows from community sewer systems. MWRA recommended cooperative efforts by local collection system operators, as well as regulators and environmental advocates, would be more effective than a prescriptive, enforcement based approach.
    [Show full text]
  • Medical Waste Treatment Technologies
    Medical Waste Treatment Technologies Ruth Stringer International Science and Policy Coordinator Health Care Without Harm Dhaka January 2011 Who is Health Care Without Harm? An International network focussing on two fundamental rights: • Right to healthcare • Right to a healthy environment Health Care Without Harm • Issues • Offices in – Medical waste –USA –Mercury – Europe – PVC – Latin America – Climate and health – South East Asia – Food • Key partners in – Green buildings –South Africa – Pharmaceuticals – India –Nurses – Tanzania – Safer materials –Mexico • Members in 53 countries Global mercury phase-out • HCWH and WHO partnering to eliminate mercury from healthcare • Part of UN Environment Programme's Mercury Products Partnership. • www.mercuryfreehealthcare.org • HCWH and WHO are principal cooperating agencies • 8-country project to reduce impacts from medical waste – esp dioxins and mercury • Model hospitals in Argentina, India, Latvia, Lebanon, the Philippines, Senegal and Vietnam • Technology development in Tanzania Incineration No longer a preferred treatment technology in many places Meeting modern emission standards costs millions of dollars Ash must be treated as hazardous waste Small incinerators are highly polluting Maintenance costs can be high, breakdowns common Decline in Medical Waste Incinerators in the U.S. 8,000 6,200 6,000 5,000 4,000 2,400 2,000 Incinerators 115 83 57 #of Medical Waste Waste Medical #of 0 1988 1994 1997 2003 2006 2008 Year SOURCES: 1988: “Hospital Waste Combustion Study-Data Gathering Phase,” USEPA, December 1998; 1994: “Medical Waste Incinerators-Background Information for Proposed Standards and Guidelines: Industry Profile Report for New and Existing Facilities,” USEPA, July 1994; 1997: 40 CFR 60 in the Federal Register, Vol.
    [Show full text]
  • Waste Technologies: Waste to Energy Facilities
    WASTE TECHNOLOGIES: WASTE TO ENERGY FACILITIES A Report for the Strategic Waste Infrastructure Planning (SWIP) Working Group Complied by WSP Environmental Ltd for the Government of Western Australia, Department of Environment and Conservation May 2013 Quality Management Issue/revision Issue 1 Revision 1 Revision 2 Revision 3 Remarks Date May 2013 Prepared by Kevin Whiting, Steven Wood and Mick Fanning Signature Checked by Matthew Venn Signature Authorised by Kevin Whiting Signature Project number 00038022 Report number File reference Project number: 00038022 Dated: May 2013 2 Revised: Waste Technologies: Waste to Energy Facilities A Report for the Strategic Waste Infrastructure Planning (SWIP) Working Group, commissioned by the Government of Western Australia, Department of Environment and Conservation. May 2013 Client Waste Management Branch Department of Environment and Conservation Level 4 The Atrium, 168 St George’s Terrace, PERTH, WA 6000 Locked Bag 104 Bentley DC WA 6983 Consultants Kevin Whiting Head of Energy-from-Waste & Biomass Tel: +44 207 7314 4647 [email protected] Mick Fanning Associate Consultant Tel: +44 207 7314 5883 [email protected] Steven Wood Principal Consultant Tel: +44 121 3524768 [email protected] Registered Address WSP Environmental Limited 01152332 WSP House, 70 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1AF 3 Table of Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................. 6 1.1 Objectives ................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Safe Use of Wastewater in Agriculture: Good Practice Examples
    SAFE USE OF WASTEWATER IN AGRICULTURE: GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLES Hiroshan Hettiarachchi Reza Ardakanian, Editors SAFE USE OF WASTEWATER IN AGRICULTURE: GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLES Hiroshan Hettiarachchi Reza Ardakanian, Editors PREFACE Population growth, rapid urbanisation, more water intense consumption patterns and climate change are intensifying the pressure on freshwater resources. The increasing scarcity of water, combined with other factors such as energy and fertilizers, is driving millions of farmers and other entrepreneurs to make use of wastewater. Wastewater reuse is an excellent example that naturally explains the importance of integrated management of water, soil and waste, which we define as the Nexus While the information in this book are generally believed to be true and accurate at the approach. The process begins in the waste sector, but the selection of date of publication, the editors and the publisher cannot accept any legal responsibility for the correct management model can make it relevant and important to any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, expressed or the water and soil as well. Over 20 million hectares of land are currently implied, with respect to the material contained herein. known to be irrigated with wastewater. This is interesting, but the The opinions expressed in this book are those of the Case Authors. Their inclusion in this alarming fact is that a greater percentage of this practice is not based book does not imply endorsement by the United Nations University. on any scientific criterion that ensures the “safe use” of wastewater. In order to address the technical, institutional, and policy challenges of safe water reuse, developing countries and countries in transition need clear institutional arrangements and more skilled human resources, United Nations University Institute for Integrated with a sound understanding of the opportunities and potential risks of Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources wastewater use.
    [Show full text]
  • Simplified Sewerage Systems and Potential Application to Rural Louisiana Communities
    University of New Orleans ScholarWorks@UNO Senior Honors Theses Undergraduate Showcase 5-2018 Simplified Sewerage Systems and Potential Application to Rural Louisiana Communities Homero de Toledo Sobrinho University of New Orleans Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uno.edu/honors_theses Part of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons Recommended Citation de Toledo Sobrinho, Homero, "Simplified Sewerage Systems and Potential Application to Rural Louisiana Communities" (2018). Senior Honors Theses. 100. https://scholarworks.uno.edu/honors_theses/100 This Honors Thesis-Unrestricted is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by ScholarWorks@UNO with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Honors Thesis-Unrestricted in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/or on the work itself. This Honors Thesis-Unrestricted has been accepted for inclusion in Senior Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UNO. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SIMPLIFIED SEWERAGE SYSTEMS AND POTENTIAL APPLICATION TO RURAL LOUISIANA COMMUNITIES An Honors Thesis Presented to the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of New Orleans In Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science, with University High Honors And Honors in Civil Engineering by Homero de Toledo Sobrinho May 2018 Acknowledgments I would like to express my great appreciation of the help given by Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Workplace Recycling
    SETTING UP Workplace Recycling 1 Form a Enlist a group of employees interested in recycling and waste prevention to set up and monitor collection systems Recycling Team to ensure ongoing success. This is a great team-building exercise and can positively impact employee morale as well as the environment. 2 Determine Customize your recycling program based on your business. Consider performing a waste audit or take inventory of materials the kinds of materials in your trash & recycling. to recycle Commonly recycled business items: Single-Stream Recycling • Aluminum & tin cans; plastic & glass bottles • Office paper, newspaper, cardboard • Magazines, catalogs, file folders, shredded paper 3 Contact Find out if recycling services are already in place. If not, ask the facility or property manager to set them up. Point your facility out that in today’s environment, employees expect to recycle at work and that recycling can potentially reduce costs. If recycling is currently provided, check with the manager to make sure good recycling education materials or property are available to all employees. This will help employees to recycle right, improve the quality of recyclable materials, manager and increase recycling participation. 4 Coordinate Work station recycling containers – Provide durable work station recycling containers or re-use existing training containers like copy paper boxes. Make recycling available at each work station. with the Click: Get-Started-Recycling-w_glass or Get-Started-Recycling-without-glass to print recycling container labels. Label your trash containers as well: Get-Started-Trash-with-food waste or janitorial crew Get-Started-Trash -no-food waste. and/or staff Central area containers – Evaluate the type and size of containers for common areas like conference rooms, hallways, reception areas, and cafes, based on volume, location, and usage.
    [Show full text]
  • Water Reuse for Agriculture - Krish Illungkoo, S
    WASTEWATER RECYCLE, REUSE, AND RECLAMATION – Vol. I - Water Reuse for Agriculture - Krish Illungkoo, S. Vigneswaran WATER REUSE FOR AGRICULTURE Krish Illungkoo Department of Land and Water Conservation, New South Wales, Australia S. Vigneswaran Faculty of Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia Keywords: Wastewater, reuse, irrigation, effluent, treatment, microbial, loading rates, environmental, sustainable Contents 1. Introduction 2. Treated Water Reuse by Irrigation 2.1. Principles 3. Public Health Aspects 3.1. Treatment 3.1.1. Secondary Treatment 3.1.2. Disinfection 3.2. Effluent Quality 3.3. Microbial Issues 4. Irrigation Schemes 4.1. Planning and Designing a Sustainable Irrigation System 4.1.1. Site Selection 4.1.2. Maximum Loading Rates and Minimum Land Requirements 4.2. Managing a Sustainable Irrigation System 4.2.1. Environmental Management Plan 4.3. Management Issues Specific to the Schemes 4.3.1. Ownership and Operation of Land 4.3.2. Calling for Expressions of Interest 4.3.3. Involving Potential Users in the Development of the Scheme 4.3.4. Identifying the Hidden Costs 4.3.5. Agreements 4.3.6. Scheme Manager 4.3.7. Involving the Broader Community 4.3.8. PotentialUNESCO Reuse Market – EOLSS 5. Conclusion AcknowledgementsSAMPLE CHAPTERS Glossary Bibliography Biographical Sketches Summary Increasing pressure on the world’s water resources are matched by rising environmental expectations in the community to minimize the impacts of human interventions in the natural water cycle. As a result, water management strategies such as wastewater ©Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS) WASTEWATER RECYCLE, REUSE, AND RECLAMATION – Vol. I - Water Reuse for Agriculture - Krish Illungkoo, S.
    [Show full text]
  • Impacts of Rehabilitating Degraded Lands on Soil Health, Pastures, Runoff, Erosion, Nutrient and Sediment Movement
    Impacts of rehabilitating degraded lands on soil health, pastures, runoff, erosion, nutrient and sediment movement. Part II: Literature review of rehabilitation methods to improve water quality flowing from grazing lands onto the Great Barrier Reef. RRRD.024 Final Report for the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country Reef Rescue Water Quality Research and Development Program RRRD.024 (A0000008317) Final Report 2014 Richard Silcock and Trevor J Hall Department of Agriculture and Fisheries PO Box 102, Toowoomba Qld 4350 Supported by the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country Reef Rescue Water Quality Research and Development Program 1 Rehabilitating degraded D-condition grazing lands: Literature Review Project RRRD.024 Final Report Part II Richard G Silcock and Trevor J Hall Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland 2014 Ord River Regeneration Reserve monitoring site Ord H04 from 1963 to 2014. 2 This publication has been compiled by Richard G. Silcock and Trevor J. Hall of Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. © State of Queensland, 2014. The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY) licence. Under this licence you are free, without having to seek our permission, to use this publication in accordance with the licence terms. You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication. For more information on this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
    [Show full text]
  • Hazardous Waste: Industrial Waste Requirements
    ENVIRONMENT, SAFETY & HEALTH DIVISION Chapter 17: Hazardous Waste Industrial Waste Requirements Product ID: 182 | Revision ID: 2413 | Date published: 26 May 2021 | Date effective: 26 May 2021 URL: https://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/references/hazwasteReqIndustrial.pdf 1 Purpose The purpose of these requirements is to ensure that industrial wastes are safely managed. They cover characterization, containment, handling, labeling, tracking, and disposal. They apply to workers (as hazardous waste generators and custodians), field construction managers, supervisors, line management, the hazardous waste program manager; and Fleet Services, Facilities and Operations, and Waste Management. 2 Requirements All industrial waste, defined as waste that contains hazardous materials but in concentrations below regulatory thresholds (typically demolition debris and contaminated soil), must be tracked by Waste Management and managed according to the requirements below. 2.1 Waste Characterization Because the concentration of contaminants in industrial waste falls below certain regulatory thresholds, it does not need to be managed the same as hazardous waste. (See Hazardous Waste: Waste Determination and Characterization Guidelines.) Indicators that a waste is industrial include the following: . Waste type. Certain types of waste are known to be classified as industrial waste, such as treated wood; soils contaminated with non-hazardous or low levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), metals and petroleum hydrocarbons; non-friable asbestos waste; and concrete slurry. In many cases, these wastes result from construction-related projects under the purview of the Facilities and Operations Division. Such operations include excavations, maintenance, remodeling, and building demolition. Waste generation history. The waste generator’s process knowledge of the waste stream can help identify the proper waste category.
    [Show full text]
  • Waste Minimisation
    Waste Minimisation An Environmental Good Practice Guide For Industry This guide will help industry and the Environment Agency move forward together to minimise waste and achieve national environmental goals WASTE MINIMISATION An Environmental Good Practice Guide for Industry “The cost of your waste is not so much the cost of getting rid of it as the value of what you are getting rid of!” Published by the Environment Agency April 2001, to help business achieve sustainable practice through waste minimisation. Revised edition April 2001. First published April 1998. i Waste Minimisation Good Practice Guide Environment Agency April 2001 FOREWORD Minimise waste – maximise profit The way we use our planet’s natural resources is now widely recognised as one of the root causes of many environmental problems. Waste and industrial emissions have a major impact on the environment both nationally and globally. Effects such as global warming, ozone depletion, acid rain, air and water pollution are all derived from local emissions, but the resources consumed may be mined and manufactured from anywhere in the world. From extraction to consumption the global economy consumes vast quantities of raw materials, water and energy. In the UK some 600 million tonnes of raw materials, excluding water, are used each year. More than 90 per cent of the resources we consume are either thrown away as wastes or discharged to the environment as effluent or air emissions. Since the Environment Agency first published this guide in 1998, waste minimisation has become an established business practice for many organisations and thousands of businesses have now implemented waste reduction programmes.
    [Show full text]
  • 2.2 Sewage Sludge Incineration
    2.2 Sewage Sludge Incineration There are approximately 170 sewage sludge incineration (SSI) plants in operation in the United States. Three main types of incinerators are used: multiple hearth, fluidized bed, and electric infrared. Some sludge is co-fired with municipal solid waste in combustors based on refuse combustion technology (see Section 2.1). Refuse co-fired with sludge in combustors based on sludge incinerating technology is limited to multiple hearth incinerators only. Over 80 percent of the identified operating sludge incinerators are of the multiple hearth design. About 15 percent are fluidized bed combustors and 3 percent are electric. The remaining combustors co-fire refuse with sludge. Most sludge incinerators are located in the Eastern United States, though there are a significant number on the West Coast. New York has the largest number of facilities with 33. Pennsylvania and Michigan have the next-largest numbers of facilities with 21 and 19 sites, respectively. Sewage sludge incinerator emissions are currently regulated under 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart O and 40 CFR Part 61, Subparts C and E. Subpart O in Part 60 establishes a New Source Performance Standard for particulate matter. Subparts C and E of Part 61--National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)--establish emission limits for beryllium and mercury, respectively. In 1989, technical standards for the use and disposal of sewage sludge were proposed as 40 CFR Part 503, under authority of Section 405 of the Clean Water Act. Subpart G of this proposed Part 503 proposes to establish national emission limits for arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, nickel, and total hydrocarbons from sewage sludge incinerators.
    [Show full text]